Greenup County Schools

Grief Counseling Plan

November, 2004

2

Greenup County Schools

Grief Counseling Mission Statement

Our mission is to support and encourage the students who

have lost a loved one. School counselors will provide

services for students who have suffered a loss. Our

purpose is to give our students an opportunity to

acknowledge their feelings and increase awareness of the

stages of grief and to teach coping techniques.

The Counselors Cadre of the Greenup County School district put together

the information contained in this plan. They have modified the work of

Izetta Smith, formerly of the Dougy Center, now with Kaiser Permanente,

gathered information from the Portland, Oregon Public Schools, and

compiled data from the Greenup County School district.

Nancy Hieneman Sherri Nickel

Barbie LeMaster Lawanna Conlin

Tammy McCown Jamie Hunt

Stacy Dowdy Sandra Cornette

Sharri Robinson Kim Taylor

In a time of loss, Counselors and other staff are prepared to provide

assistance in helping members of the school community with the loss.

Typically, a loss would include the death of a student, family member,

teacher or other staff member. This can include car accidents, homicide, and

accidental deaths. Deaths from a long-term illness could include those from

cancer, cystic fibrosis and other chronic illnesses. Teen suicide, the second

leading cause of death among 11-19 year olds, has a profound impact on the

students, staff and community. Issues surrounding national and community

disaster situations may have a direct impact on the students and staff and it is

important to maintain a sense of order to the highest degree possible.

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Grief Counseling Mission Statement .. . 2

Table of Contents .. 3

District Contact List ... 4

Area Agency Contacts 5

Checklist to Use During a School Crisis. 6

Intervention an explanation of procedures to be used in a crisis .7

Steps in confirmation of a crisis or death ... 8

Flow Chart ..... 9

Before School Crisis Team Meeting ..... 10

The School Day Agenda....12

The Staff Pre-Meeting ...13

The School Day/Students and Staff ..... 14

The School Day/Counseling Team....15

The Staff Debriefing Meeting........16

Providing Support and Intervention...17

Activities of the School Counseling Team after 3 weeks..18

What To Do When the Media Calls ..20

Script to Help Teachers .21

Things Teachers Say and Do to Help Grieving Students..22

What to Say to Grieving Students 23

Sample Letter to Parents ...24

Three Tasks Facing Children ....25

Coping Strategies ..26

Take Care of Yourself ...27

Recommendations for Youth.28

Teacher Guidelines for Discussion....29

Safe Room Checklist..31

Four Principles of Support ....32

Three Tasks Facing Children.33

Developmental Stages for Children in Grief.34

When to Refer to a Professional Counselor..39

Helping Students Cope With Grief40

Suggested Readings For Children.41

Suggested Readings For Adults.42

4

Greenup County Schools District Crisis Contact List

Superintendent: Steve Hall Home 929-9522, office 473-9810

Greenup County High School 473-9812, 473-9813, 473-9814

Jim Dunaway 465-6736

Amanda Powell 465-9834

Aaron Collier 465-5643

Tammy McCown 740-532-8885

Barbie LeMaster 932-6206

McKell Middle School: 932-3221, 932-4824, 932-3324

Brenda Box 606-796-6802 Cell 606-585-8269

Nancy Hieneman 473-9532

Wurtland Middle School: 836-1023, 836-0025

Dan Imes 923-2295

Eric Keeton 833-9413

Lawanna Conlin 473-5333

Argillite Elementary: 473-7213, 473-5379

Tom Crump 473-7973

Sherri Nickel 740-464-0459

Greysbranch Elementary: 473-9653, 473-5776

Jeff Wireman 606-585-8259

Jamie Hunt 932-9654

McKell Elementary: 932-3383, 932-9480

Tom Kouns 324-2448

Donnie Harrison 606-585-8256

Stacy Dowdy 932-3024

Sandra Cornette 796-0918

Wurtland Elementary: 836-6987, 836-4220

Barbara Cook 836-6797 cell: 606-585-8175

Sharri Robinson 473-5812

5

Greenup County Schools District Crisis Contact List

Superintendent: Steve Hall Home 929-9522, office 473-9810

Greenup County High School 473-9812, 473-9813, 473-9814

Jim Dunaway 465-6736

Amanda Powell 465-9834

Aaron Collier 465-5643

Tammy McCown 740-532-8885

Barbie LeMaster 932-6206

McKell Middle School: 932-3221, 932-4824, 932-3324

Brenda Box 606-796-6802 Cell 606-585-8269

Nancy Hieneman 473-9532

Wurtland Middle School: 836-1023, 836-0025

Dan Imes 923-2295

Eric Keeton 833-9413

Lawanna Conlin 473-5333

Argillite Elementary: 473-7213, 473-5379

Tom Crump 473-7973

Sherri Nickel 740-464-0459

Greysbranch Elementary: 473-9653, 473-5776

Jeff Wireman 606-585-8259

Jamie Hunt 932-9654

McKell Elementary: 932-3383, 932-9480

Tom Kouns 324-2448

Donnie Harrison 606-585-8256

Stacy Dowdy 932-3024

Sandra Cornette 796-0918

Wurtland Elementary: 836-6987, 836-4220

Barbara Cook 836-6797 cell: 606-585-8175

Sharri Robinson 473-5812

Area Agency Contacts Communication Agencies:

WKEE 304-525-7788 WLGC 606-920-9565

WSAZ 304-697-4780 Portsmouth Daily Times 740-353-3101

6

Community Common 740-353-1151 Ashland Daily Independent 606-326-2600

Community Service Agencies:

Community Hospice 606-329-1890 Family Home Health Care 606-324-2491

Ramey/Estep Children Home 606-928-6648 Big Brothers/Big Sisters 606-329-8799

Scioto Counseling 740-354-6685 Pathways 800-562-8909

Pathways-Greenup 606-473-7333 FIVCO Area Dev District 606-739-5191

Northeast Develop-Greenup Co 606-473-9873

Child Care Agencies:

Ashland Child Development 606-329-1744 Bethel Lutheran Church 606-836-2577

First Baptist Church-Raceland 606-836-1437 Kids Place-Greenup 606-473-9653

Kids Place-South Shore 606-932-6513 Just Kidding Daycare 606-932-4751

Little Blessings Daycare 606-473-6905 Wee Care 606-932-2610

Northeast R & R 800-817-4443 Child Care Subsidy counselor 606-473-7311

Community Based Services 606-473-7311

Domestic Violence: Safe Harbor 800-926-2150

Employment Services:

Department for Employment 606-920-2024 Goodwill Industries 304-523-7461

Food, Clothing, Shelter:

Wurtland Church of God 606-836-0557 Helping Hands 606-473-6916

Ashland-Calvary Episcopal Ch 606-325-8144 Salvation Army 606-324-5751

Shelter of Hope 606-324-6700 Harmony House 304-523-2764

Birthright Services 800-550-4900 Hillcrest Bruce Meth Ministry 606-324-5723

Health Services:

Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital: KY HIV/AIDS 606-473-9594

Behavioral Center 606-833-3557 Greenup Co Health Dept 606-473-9838

South Shore Outreach 606-932-3159 FIVCO Health Dept 606-329-9444

Home Health 606-833-3547/473-9895 Hillcrest Bruce Meth Ministry 606-324-5723

Hearing Center 606-324-0465 KDMC Education Center 606-377-5362

Riverpark Hospital 800-621-2673 Halzelden Services 800-257-7800

Legal Services:

Department of Juvenile Justice 606-475-9604 NE Legal Services, Inc. 606-329-1321

Court Designated Worker 606-473-5300

Secondary Education/Schools:

Ashland Community Tech Col 606-329-2999 KY Christian University 606-474-3000

Morehead State University 606-327-1777 Shawnee State University 800-959-2778

GED Adult Learning Center 606-473-1091

Miscellaneous:

Ashland Alliance 606-324-5111 Ashland City Recreation 606-327-2046

AAA Foundation Traffic Safety 800-568-5220 American Red Cross 606-473-9594

Emergency Management 606-473-5644 Social Security Admin 606-324-0516

KY State Police 606-928-6421 Junior Achievement 606-329-1699

ALERT Regional Prevention 606-329-8588 YMCA 606-324-6191 YWCA 325-1775

Site Based Assistance:

Tygart Creek 606-932-2500 Holly Manor South Shore 606-932-6910

Brentwood I & II Flatwoods 606-836-3007 Riverwood Flatwoods 606-836-0451

Bayberry Townhomes 606-833-1800 Raceland Meadows 606-836-0665

Windy Hills Flatwoods 606-836-3007

Greenup County Schools: 473-9810 / 473-7739 District Board Office

East Greenup Family Resource Center 473-4508 Argillite Greenup Family Resource Center 932-2654

836-1476 Wurtland McKell 932-2654 Greysbranch 473-5267

McKell Family Resource Youth Service Center Wurtland Middle School Youth Service Center

McKell Middle School 932-2437 Wurtland Middle School 833-5483

Greenup County High School Youth Service Center

High School 473-5488

Checklist to Use During A School Crisis

Notification

7

_ Principal confirms the information from law enforcement and/or family _ Principal contacts District Superintendent _ Principal contacts Public Information Director, as needed _ Principal contacts school crisis team liaison _ Pri